Booher's Rules of Business Grammar - Dianna Booher 2009

“I wish i may, i wish i might … could you tell me which verb to use tonight?”
Verbosity about verbs: The big blunders

THE MAY/MIGHT DILEMMA

Dusty Springfield, a pop star of the 1960s, may still be “just wishin’, and hopin’,” but the rest of us need to know the right words to use when things are distinct possibilities at home and work.

May means that things are possible, even likely. Might means that there’s less likelihood of something happening.

I may get to take an African safari. (possible on my next trip to Africa)

I might get to take an African safari. (not very likely, but I’m wishing and hoping)

Percival may have to resign if he can’t explain the errors. (possible, even likely)

Percival might have to resign if he can’t explain the errors. (unlikely, teasing him)

Now let’s add one more layer of complexity: Might is also the past tense of may. In those situations, the degree of possibility is not the criterion for using might. If the other verbs in the sentence are past tense, may becomes might (past tense).

The report stated that the buyers might conduct plant tours unannounced. (We don’t know how probable the tours are.)

Wall Street analysts indicated that investors might be squeamish about our stock. (Who knows how likely they’ll be to react negatively?)

Percival said he might resign. (Darned if we know if he will or won’t.)

So what’s a person to do with a may or might choice? Like Dusty Springfield in her classic song, decide if you’re just wishing and hoping or if you have a real shot at your dream.

Memory tip

Link this may-might dilemma to Dusty Springfield’s hit, and you’ll be humming the criterion for choosing the correct word: What’s the likelihood? May implies that things are more likely than might does.